History of International Broadcasting

by James Wood

Overview

The first volume of History of International Broadcasting (1992) traced the history of radio broadcasting, chiefly on the short waves, from its earliest origins to its role as an instrument of foreign policy in World War II and into the cold war. This volume documents the role of the West's international broadcasters - such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the BBC World Service - in using propaganda and other information to assist in bringing about the collapse of Soviet communism and the end of the cold war. It also analyses the new uses to which broadcasting infrastructures are being put, as well as new developments reflecting changes in world politics and culture. Much attention is therefore devoted to broadcasting to and within Asia and the Arabic-Islamic Middle East region, where some of the greatest new investments are being made.

The emergence of new activities, such as re-broadcasting of Western services using the powerful transmitters once used by the Soviets for jamming these very stations, are described. Equally, over the past few decades there has been an entirely new market in the growth of powerful religious broadcasters on the international frequency bands.

The book is supplemented with tables, statistics and analysis of many of the world's international broadcasters, in the light of new tran mission technologies. There is also study of the major transmitter manufacturing industry and its companies, among which there has been much movement in the way acquisitions and collaborative ventures. The book concludes with a look at emerging technologies such as digital broadcasting and the long-term future of international broadcasting in the shortwave bands.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780852969205
Publisher:	The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Publication date:	06/30/2000
Series:	History and Management of Technology
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

James Wood CEng FIET is a consulting engineer, analyst and journalist specialising in the international broadcasting industry. The author of more than 280 articles, technical papers and books, he has contributed to all the major broadcast magazines and journals in Europe, the USA and Asia. Former Transmission Correspondent for International Broadcasting, he is a regular contributor to Radio World International Edition. He brings to this field a lifetime of experience and enthusiasm, making him a uniquely qualified author for this subject.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: International broadcasting in the HF spectrum: past and present
• Chapter 2: An analysis of SW sales 1950-1997
• Chapter 3: SW listening audiences and broadcasting output
• Chapter 4: Projecting foreign policy, propaganda, beliefs and objectives
• Chapter 5: Structure of US international broadcasting
• Chapter 6: The BBC World Service
• Chapter 7: Deutsche Welle: the Voice of Germany
• Chapter 8: Radio France International
• Chapter 9: Voice of America
• Chapter 10: Radio Canada International
• Chapter 11: Swiss Radio International
• Chapter 12: Radio Nederland Wereldomroep
• Chapter 13: The former Soviet Union
• Chapter 14: The Balkan region
• Chapter 15: RFE/RL comes out of the cold
• Chapter 16: The restructuring of US Government international broadcasting
• Chapter 17: The Arab-Islamic world
• Chapter 18: Libya, Egypt, Kuwait and Iran
• Chapter 19: China and SE Asia
• Chapter 20: Radio Australia
• Chapter 21: US religious/commercial private broadcasters
• Chapter 22: The broadcast transmitter industry
• Chapter 23: Company profiles
• Chapter 24: Steerable 500 kW rated curtain antenna arrays
• Chapter 25: Profile of the tube manufacturing industry
• Chapter 26: The future is digital
• Chapter 27: The future for international broadcasting in the HF spectrum
• Appendix 1: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
• Appendix 2: SW reference list for the major transmitter manufacturers

Editorial Reviews

'International shortwave broadcasting is a fascinating subject and the author is to be commended on his effort. This historical reference work is well worth the price and makes a terrific read. It should be in the library of anyone with an interest in shortwave broadcasting.'

The NASWA Journal

Documents the role of the West's international broadcasters, such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and the BBC World Service, in using propaganda and other information to assist in bringing about the collapse of Soviet communism. Analyzes new uses of these broadcasting infrastructures and new developments reflecting changes in the world in politics and culture. Much attention is devoted to broadcasting to and within Asia and the Middle East. Also looks at the transmitter manufacturing industry, and emerging technologies. The author is a consulting engineer, analyst, and journalist specializing in the international broadcasting industry. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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